MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s volleyball team returns to Worthen Arena on Saturday, Jan. 11 for a 7:30 p.m. match with Sacred Heart. The Cardinals are coming off a 3-0 setback to UC Irvine while the Pioneers are opening up their season with a swing through Indiana.

Scouting Ball State

The Cardinals opened up its season on Saturday, Jan. 4 hosting two-time defending national champion UC Irvine in the Don Shondell Active Ankle Challenge. UC Irvine won the match, 3-0. Senior Kevin Owens had eight kills in the match while he and classmate Matt Leske contributed four solo blocks and four assisted blocks.

Scouting Sacred Heart

The Pioneers are starting off the 2014 campaign with a swing through Indiana taking on IPFW and Ball State. Sacred Heart returns its leading offensive threat in outside attacker Brad Borsay who collected 274 kills in 2013 for a 3.11 kills per set average. Libero AJ Logosh also returns for the Pioneers coming off a 144 dig season in 2013 for a 2.18 digs per set average. Sacred Heart’s starting setter from last season is also back for the Pioneers. During the 2013 campaign Thomas collected 817 assists for a 9.28 assists per set average.

Series with Sacred Heart

Ball State won both outings against Sacred Heart last season including a 3-0 sweep on Mar. 9 in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals hold an overall 5-0 record against the Pioneers in a series that dates back to the 2011 season.

Record Watching

Senior setter Graham McIlvaine is 132 assists away from being seventh in program history in career assists. Heading into Saturday’s match, McIlvaine has 2,022 assists and trails Dave Carlson (2005-06) who has 2,153 career assists.

Poster Night

The Cardinals will be signing its 2014 posters after the game on Saturday. Other poster nights this season include: Feb. 20, Mar. 29 and Apr. 11.

Live video access will be available for free at ballstatesports.com and you can listen live with 91.3 FM WCRD. The official Twitter handle for Ball State men’s volleyball, @BallStateMVB, will also provide in-match tweets.